Recognizing the Messiah

Posted: Thursday, December 24th, 2015

About Holiday Manna Series

A collection of devotions written in celebration of various holidays, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. May this holiday manna bless you!

Devotional

Luke 2:27-29 AMPAnd prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law, [Simeon] took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said, And now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.

Simeon, ever led by the Spirit, was guided into the Temple at just the moment Mary and Joseph came for ‘the Baby’s dedication.’ And the priest, whose purpose for living came to the moment of his destiny, recognized the Messiah carried in the arms of a most ordinary couple among the teeming crowd in the outer court.

Mary and Joseph were poor, obscure, and insignificant, having only doves to give as their offering. But the man who lived the life adventure of looking to God could see! He could see because he looked. He could hear because he listened. He knew Israel’s Messiah when others passed by without a glance, without any recognition.